Looking back on the 2025 season
Although a new cabinet is not yet in sight, the end of 2025 certainly is. So, as usual, a short look back at the past folklore season.
Once again we can look back on a fine season. No incidents, good weather and lots of public interest. What more could a board want?
This year, for the Miss election, we moved to the auditorium of the Regius College because the Alpha hall was not available. The cooperation with the school was exemplary, and the election produced a worthy successor to Donna May de Ruijter in the person of Sandra Bakker from Waarland. She was a radiant Miss on the gig (sjees) all season long! Despite a successful election, the auditorium of the Regius College turned out to be too large and too brightly lit to create a cosy, intimate atmosphere. In addition, the distance between the participants and the audience was too great. We missed the ‘catwalk’! The board has therefore decided to hold the Miss election next year in the carriage shed behind Museum Vreeburg, as Alpha is again not available.
The year 2025 was once again marked by the biennial World Dance Festival. The participating groups were present in very colourful fashion in the parade during Dance Day and also gave a sparkling performance on the stage by the church.
The band Vlacor returned for Music Day, and it was a success once again. This day was also special because of the presence of Mrs Jill Eenigenburg and her husband from the United States. As the name suggests, Mrs Eenigenburg's ancestors came from the village of the same name in our municipality. They were very impressed by the Westfriese Folklore.
A number of developments over the past year must not go unmentioned.
On the board, our new treasurer Nel de Vries soon had to step down for health reasons. Fortunately, Max Hopmans was willing to take up his old role again pending a new successor. One was found in the person of Jan Dekker. From his working life, Jan knows a great deal about finance, so that should be fine. He has been learning the ropes over the past months and will take over the baton from Max as of the new year.
The year 2025 also brought cooperation with the Paasvee Tentoonstelling (Easter cattle show) and the Harddraverij (trotting races) to obtain the status of ‘intangible heritage’. As things stand, the Westfriese Folklore, like the Paasvee Tentoonstelling and the Harddraverij, will shortly be added to the inventory of intangible heritage. A fine result, which means recognition for the great deal of work done by all our volunteers to preserve West Frisian heritage.
A motion by Wens4U, tabled by Merieke Bredewold and adopted by the municipal council, marked the start of another collaboration. The municipality, Loet 10, Museum Vreeburg, the Muziektuin and the Westfriese Folklore now form the project group Cultuur Ensemble “Alles onder ien dak” (‘everything under one roof’). The organisations involved have signed a declaration of intent to create a coherent cultural cluster. The aim is to work together, strengthen each other and thus create an attractive, prominent place in the heart of Schagen for residents and tourists alike.
In short, a fine folklore year, which sadly came to a sad and sorrowful end with the death, after an illness of a few weeks, of our loyal secretary Arie Groen. Arie had already indicated that he wanted to stop as secretary after the coming year. A successor had already been found in the person of Tinka Kriens, and it had been agreed that Arie would show her the ropes. How we would have loved to give Arie a fine farewell as secretary. It was not to be. Fortunately, Tinka brings the necessary secretarial experience and, of course, as a board we will support her as much as possible. We are pleased to have a second woman on the board. Despite the loss of our secretary, the Folklore must carry on with confidence into 2026. Arie would not have wanted it any other way. Next year we will start on Thursday 18 June with the Miss election in the carriage shed behind Vreeburg. So make a note of that date, and here is a call to potential participants: don't hesitate and register in good time with Annette Tesselaar!
We wish everyone a happy New Year and a wonderful and above all healthy 2026! Our thoughts are with Arie and his family.
The board
